Driftwood 7s: No upsets as KCB, Oilers, Strathmore, Kabras through to last eight
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 26.07.25. | 20:23
KCB Rugby had to dig deep in their first match against Daystar Falcons, coming from behind to win 24-14
The 2025 National 7s Circuit kicked off in style, as day one of the Driftwood 7s delivered thrilling rugby at the Mombasa Sports Club on Saturday, 26 July.
There were no major upsets as the competition's top contenders cruised through their respective pools.
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The quarterfinal matchups are set: Kenya Harlequin will face Nakuru RFC, Strathmore Leos take on Nondies, Kabras will meet Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) in a varsity showdown, while defending series champions KCB clash with Menengai Oilers in a heavyweight tie.
Defending Driftwood 7s champions Kenya Harlequin opened their campaign with a 14-7 victory over Blak Blad, marking their first outing since the departure of head coach Paul Murunga.
Two converted tries were enough to hand them maximum points. They later followed up with a dominant 17-0 win over Mwamba RFC to seal a quarterfinal spot.
In Pool B, Kabras RFC began with a commanding 26-0 win over Nakuru. Lameck Ambetsa, Jackson Siketi, and Roy Maruti orchestrated a fluid attack that saw them score four tries without reply.
Despite a brief kit change delay and a yellow card to Mike Lukusi, Kabras never lost control.
They later came from behind to beat Impala RFC 21-7, sealing their place at the top of the pool.
Their 29-0 victory over Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) Monks only added life to the party.
Nakuru RFC, on the other hand, bounced back to beat Catholic Monks 24-0 to keep their hopes alive.
Skipper Chrissant Ojwang and Victor Matiko were among the scorers in that emphatic win.
KCB Rugby had to dig deep in their first match against Daystar Falcons, coming from behind to win 24-14.
Tries from Festus Shiasi and former Daystar player Floyd Wabwire turned the tide after Daystar briefly led in the second half.
The Bankers then put on a show against hosts Mombasa Sports Club, hammering them 43-0 in one of the most one-sided games of the day.
Wabwire starred again, with support from Jenkis Kipruto, Emmanuel Opondo, and Dominic Sande, who marked his debut with a try.
Nondies also had a strong outing in Pool C, defeating Mombasa 19-0 in their opener before edging Daystar Falcons 10-7 in a tight encounter to book their spot in the last eight.
Strathmore Leos overcame early rust to register back-to-back wins and cruise into the quarters.
They blanked Kabarak University 28-0 before dismantling Stallions Rugby 26-0.
Kenyan international Nygel Amaitsa was among the scorers, while Gabriel Ayimba and Victor Mola also impressed for the students.
Menengai Oilers joined them in the last eight after two gritty performances.
They beat Stallions 19-0, with captain Denis Abukuse leading from the front, before surviving a late scare in a tense Nakuru Derby to edge out Kabarak University 19-14.
Kabarak had led 12-7 at halftime, but the Oilers showed composure and resilience to turn it around after the break.
In one of the surprise packages of the day, MMUST stunned Mwamba RFC 17-12 before winning a tightly contested varsity derby against Blak Blad 14-7.
The twin victories ensured their progression to the knockout stages.
The knockout matches are slated for Sunday 27 July at the same location.
